Established
1977
City
Seattle
League History
2000 – Present / Major League Baseball
1977 – 1999 / American League
Team History
1977 – Present / Seattle Mariners
Nickname
Mariners – As a lifelong Seattle Mariners fan, you may have heard the team’s nickname and wondered where it came from. The name's origins are rooted in local history and baseball lore.
The Seattle Mariners were founded in 1977 as part of Major League Baseball's expansion into Canada with the Toronto Blue Jays. At this time, there was already a minor league team based out of Seattle called the Pilots that had been around since 1903. To honor this legacy, owners kept “Mariners” as their nickname when they joined MLB - paying homage to Puget Sound's long-standing maritime tradition, which dates back centuries before Europeans first set foot on American soil!
In addition to recognizing Washington state’s nautical heritage, selecting “Mariners” also served another purpose: it gave fans something familiar amidst all these simultaneous changes (i.e., joining MLB). It provided a sense of continuity during what could have been an incredibly tumultuous transition period for both players and supporters alike!
Furthermore, many believe that choosing “Mariners" was also intended to evoke images associated with exploration – much like how early explorers sought new lands across oceans unknown by sailing ships, so too did baseball teams explore uncharted territories through sport (in this case North America) while bringing joy & excitement wherever they went! This is why we still proudly use our beloved mascot, "The Mariner Moose," today - he symbolizes our intrepid spirit. He is a friendly reminder about how far we've come over four decades since entering Major League Baseball ranks way back then...
Championship
World Series 0
Stadium
2019 - Present / T-Mobile Park
1999 – 2018 / Safeco Field
1977 – 1999 / Kingdome Dome
Owner
1992 – Present / Baseball Club of Seattle, LP
1989 – 1992 / Jeff Smulyan
1980 – 1989 / George Argyros
1977 – 1980 / Danny Kaye
- 1977
- 1992
- 1999
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Seattle Mariners Team Formation
To keep the league with an even number of teams, a formal expansion proceeding was held, with a second team, the Blue Jays, being awarded to the city of Toronto also allowing both leagues to place a team in Canada; the National League’s Montreal Expos having been established in 1969. The new Seattle team, to begin play in 1977, would ... -
Yamauchi Purchases Mariners
In the early 1990s, the Seattle Mariners were available for sale and Washington State Senator Slade Gorton asked Nintendo of America to find a Japanese investor who would keep the club in Seattle. Yamauchi offered to buy the franchise, even though he had never been to a baseball game. Although the owner accepted the offer, the MLB commissioner Fay Vincent ... -
Safeco Stadium
Safeco Field (sometimes referred to as Safeco or The Safe) is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB) and has a seating capacity of 47,574 for baseball. Construction officially began on March 8, 1997, ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Mariners
The Seattle Mariners, home to some of MLB's greatest players, are one of the most beloved teams in Major League Baseball. Founded in 1977, they have a long and storied history of success on the diamond. From their first winning season to their recent run as perennial contenders, Seattle fans have plenty to cheer about regarding their hometown team. The Mariners' dedication to excellence has produced a legacy that includes some of the game's most iconic players, further cementing their place in MLB history.
1995 after years of losing records and little fanfare outside the Pacific Northwest region, things began to turn around for the Mariners with an unforgettable season that saw them win 79 games - more than any other expansion franchise had achieved in its inaugural year. This was just a sign of what was yet to come; over two decades later, they remain one of baseball’s most consistent franchises with 16 playoff appearances since 1995, including four American League West Division titles (1995-2001).
The 2000s were especially fruitful for Mariner fans as stars such as Ichiro Suzuki led them into contention nearly every year from 2001 through 2009, culminating with 116 wins during the 2002 regular season - still an MLB record today! Though times may be tough now due essentially to aging rosters and financial limitations, there is no denying that The Seattle Mariners are among baseball’s all-time great franchises thanks essentially to those magical seasons at Safeco Field throughout much of this century.
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
11 / Edgar Martínez
24 / Ken Griffey Jr.
42 / Jackie Robinson
*Blue is this team’s history